Ground: Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium (Semi-Pro League) - Sampao Saen Stadium (Thonburi League)
Capacity: 6,000 - 200
Club Founded: 2010
League: Thai Semi-Pro League - Thonburi League (current level)
Among the many amateur clubs around Bangkok, Bangkapi FC continues to field many youth teams while working towards promotion to the professional set-up.
The Amateur League Years
Bangkapi FC has a thriving youth section, fielding several teams. They played in the Thailand Amateur League in 2019, where any hopes of promotion ended in a 5-0 defeat to Prachinburi City. Following the pandemic, they won Bangkok Group B in 2022, then knocked out Patumkongka 2-0 in the quarter-final stage.
Victory over Phimai United saw the team reach the Bangkok region final, where the run was ended with a defeat on penalties to FC Bangsaotong, just two wins short of joining the professional ranks in Thai League 3.
Recent Years
The club joined the Thonburi League in the same year, entering two sides into the competition a season later, such was the number of available players. They managed to secure Sampao Saen Stadium off Thanon Kubon for their home games, not far from their spiritual home.
Bangkapi B became champions of the Thonburi League in 2024, reverting to fielding just one side, a couple of years later. The club focused on the Semi-Pro League to try to reach Thai League 3, with home games played at Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium.
My visits
Bangkapi B became champions of the Thonburi League in 2024, reverting to fielding just one side, a couple of years later. The club focused on the Semi-Pro League to try to reach Thai League 3, with home games played at Ramkhamhaeng University Stadium.
My visits
At Sampao Saen Stadium
Bangkapi FC ‘A’ 7 Dream My Friend 0
Thonburi League Zone C - Sunday 24th March 2024
👨👨👧👧 c10 🎟️ Free
Steve's Minburi Farewell
Steve's Minburi Farewell
A strange day in many ways, as it would be the last match my mate Steve would go to as a Minburi resident. He was moving to Isan the following week, while I was heading north the following morning to Chiang Mai for my cricket annual pilgrimage. It seemed apt to stay relatively local.
We had enjoyed several games in both the amateur Thonburi and Bangkok Premier Leagues and generally found them entertaining, full of endeavour, and free to get into. Often, we came across venues with surprisingly good facilities. I’d been to Sampaosan before, but it was my mate's first visit.
Build-Up
We had enjoyed several games in both the amateur Thonburi and Bangkok Premier Leagues and generally found them entertaining, full of endeavour, and free to get into. Often, we came across venues with surprisingly good facilities. I’d been to Sampaosan before, but it was my mate's first visit.
Build-Up
It was a sweltering Sunday afternoon when we jumped on the 197 bus. The route took me past where I had just come from, as some services go that route and others go directly down Ram Intra to Thanon Kubon. Not to worry, as we had enough time to still take the walk at the other end and arrive around ten minutes before the 4pm kick-off.
While I’d seen games on the pitch before, they were home matches of Thai Spirit. Bangkpai had been in action on the adjoining pitch on one occasion, and on another, I turned up to an advertised fixture only to find an empty field for reasons I never discovered. Anyway, the good news was that all was in place this time as we took our sheltered seats near the corner flag.
Perfect Seats
While I’d seen games on the pitch before, they were home matches of Thai Spirit. Bangkpai had been in action on the adjoining pitch on one occasion, and on another, I turned up to an advertised fixture only to find an empty field for reasons I never discovered. Anyway, the good news was that all was in place this time as we took our sheltered seats near the corner flag.
Perfect Seats
Bangkapi had two sides in the competition, with the ‘B’ team plying their trade in Zone B. The hosts would go top with a win, while their opponents, who I’ll refer to as DMF for this report, foundering around the bottom of the table. We expected goals, and we certainly got them.
The pitch was in excellent condition, with the shelter reaching around the corner by the entrance, containing a few seats, changing rooms, toilets, and a café serving local food. A hut sold beer, soft drinks, and snacks. Between the two pitches stood a collection of shelters for subs, officials, and a few supporters.
Early Match Pointers
The pitch was in excellent condition, with the shelter reaching around the corner by the entrance, containing a few seats, changing rooms, toilets, and a café serving local food. A hut sold beer, soft drinks, and snacks. Between the two pitches stood a collection of shelters for subs, officials, and a few supporters.
Early Match Pointers
It took until about midway through the first half for Bangkapi’s dominant possession to be turned into a goal as number 25 finished smartly from a low cross supplied by number 77. DMF were less mobile, with one or two big youths already struggling in the heat. It was obvious that they would be in for a long afternoon.
After half an hour, we took advantage of the cheap large bottles of Leo. The nearside linesman, who must have lost the toss and was put under the sun, looked on longingly as we imbibed. We thought it was only right, as the players had a mid-half break for their drinks. Shortly after, Bangkapi's number 91 was fed in, and he did the rest to double the score.
Bangkapi Dominance
After half an hour, we took advantage of the cheap large bottles of Leo. The nearside linesman, who must have lost the toss and was put under the sun, looked on longingly as we imbibed. We thought it was only right, as the players had a mid-half break for their drinks. Shortly after, Bangkapi's number 91 was fed in, and he did the rest to double the score.
Bangkapi Dominance
The tall number 91 looked like a class act against admittedly limited opponents, as he waltzed through elegantly before calmly finishing close to the interval. By now, our buddy with the flag was literally flagging and realised he would be just as effective staying in one place as the defence he was monitoring was also in slow motion.
There was still time for a shot to cannon off the DMF post and then number 8 to go on a jinking run before finishing past the keeper, who must have been delighted when the ref blew his whistle for halftime a few seconds later.
Easing Off
There was still time for a shot to cannon off the DMF post and then number 8 to go on a jinking run before finishing past the keeper, who must have been delighted when the ref blew his whistle for halftime a few seconds later.
Easing Off
As often happens with such score lines, especially with younger players, the team well on top eased off slightly and made poor decisions as players wanted their own personal glory instead of feeding teammates.
The DMF goalie, obviously fed up with his hapless defence, decided to take matters into his own hands after the restart, often with poor conclusions. He will never make a sweeper. Number 29 proved too strong in a challenge on the deck with him and was left to put the ball into the empty net to make it 5-0.
Comprehensive Victory
The DMF goalie, obviously fed up with his hapless defence, decided to take matters into his own hands after the restart, often with poor conclusions. He will never make a sweeper. Number 29 proved too strong in a challenge on the deck with him and was left to put the ball into the empty net to make it 5-0.
Comprehensive Victory
Bangkapi’s number 25 lobbed the custodian with around twenty-five minutes to go, while another amateur game kicked off on the second pitch at the excellent facility, which staged another game on the main pitch after our encounter was finished. A great opportunity to hire somewhere that also had floodlights for nighttime use.
It was number 8 for Bangkapi, who rounded off the scoring, pushing the ball past the DMF keeper and then slotting home. It was a fine way to relax, chew some fat, and watch some football while enjoying some local beer, but we weren’t done there.
Post-Match Session
It was number 8 for Bangkapi, who rounded off the scoring, pushing the ball past the DMF keeper and then slotting home. It was a fine way to relax, chew some fat, and watch some football while enjoying some local beer, but we weren’t done there.
Post-Match Session
We went on a walk through a village and alongside a khlong to try and take a shortcut, to the astonishment of some residents who rarely see a westerner. We arrived at Craft Beer @Khubon, where the staff remembered us from a previous visit, which I’m yet to decide was good or bad. Once again, we tried some strong, tasty taps and listened to music.
I suggested we needed to head home, as I had a flight the following morning. My fellow Yorkshireman said he wanted to wait for a bus to save money on a taxi. My app indicated that a bus had left the terminus around fifteen minutes ago.
I suggested we needed to head home, as I had a flight the following morning. My fellow Yorkshireman said he wanted to wait for a bus to save money on a taxi. My app indicated that a bus had left the terminus around fifteen minutes ago.
My roving report video for A Thai Football Podcast
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